AHMEDABAD: Captain Rohit Sharma on Saturday said his players understand the pressure of being Indian cricketers and remain “calm and composed” for the World Cup final against five-time champions Australia.

The hosts are undefeated in 10 matches and will eye their first global trophy in over a decade in front of around 130,000 fans at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

“Leading up to every game we have been quite composed, quite calm about what we want to do, because we know how it is outside the environment we have,” Sharma told reporters in a packed press conference room ahead of Sunday’s final.

“The expectations and the pressure, criticism and everything, so it’s important we stick to our strength and what we want to do as a team.” “Inside what they [players] feel I can’t tell you, but when they are around the group, everybody seems to be quite relaxed and calm. Being an Indian cricketer you have deal with pressure, that’s a given, it’s there.”

India last won the World Cup in 2011 at home under M.S. Dhoni with the cricket crazy-country erupting in joy as thousands took to the streets to celebrate.

Two years later, Dhoni led India to the 2013 Champions Trophy, but the cricketing powerhouse faltered at the World Cup semi-final stage in 2015 and 2019.

This time around, Sharma’s team has lived up to their billing of pre-tournament favourites with a perfect showing in the league stage and then a 70-run win over New Zealand in the semi-final.

“Emotionally it’s a big thing, a big occasion,” said 36-year-old Sharma. “So along with me, all the other 10 players who will play on the ground tomorrow, their focus will be more on their work for the team, rather than thinking about, this is the biggest moment of my life.

“Two years ago, since I became the captain, we have prepared for this day. We identified the players who will take part, they were given clarity in their roles.”

Fellow cricket superpower Australia are into their eighth World Cup final.

They have won eight matches on the bounce after two opening losses, including a six-wicket defeat to India after they were bowled out for just 199.

“They’ve won eight out of eight and they played it really well. So, it’s going to be a good contest,” said Sharma. “Both teams deserve to be at this stage playing the finals and we understand the importance of what Australia can do. They are a very complete side and for us again what is important is to focus on what we want to do as a team.”

He refused to be drawn on whether his team had developed an aura similar to Australia’s all-conquering 2003 side that outclassed India in the final in Johannesburg to lift the third of their five World Cup titles.

“Look, I don’t believe in that aura. You have to come to the ground well and play good cricket,” said Sharma, whose side are firm favourites for a third crown.

“It’s important to have confidence in such games. We played 10 matches well. But again, if you make mistakes tomorrow, then whatever good work you did in those 10 matches, it gets wasted.”

India have been the form team but there was controversy in the lead-up to their 70-run semi-final in over New Zealand in Mumbai after it emerged the game was being played on a Wankhede Stadium pitch already used twice before during the tournament rather than a freshly-prepared surface.

A used pitch had no major bearing on the Mumbai semi-final, with more than 700 runs scored in the game.

The pitch for the final will be the same surface as the one on which India cruised to a seven-wicket pool win over Pakistan last month, when they dismissed their arch-rivals for just 191 after winning the toss.

“My understanding is it’s going to be on the slower side,” said Sharma.

“But we have to assess what it is like tomorrow,” he added, pointing out that while there had been dew on the ground ahead of the Pakistan game, none appeared during the match itself. “That’s why I keep saying the toss is not going to be a factor, you’ve got to play well to win the game regardless of how well you know the conditions.”

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2023